colyseus VS Cockatrice

If you don't want to dive deep into backend then https://colyseus.io/ might also be an option.

Since you already know Javascript you could try to use some existing server framework at first to avoid having to do everything from scratch. https://github.com/colyseus/colyseus

Try this Node.js based server framework https://github.com/colyseus/colyseus

https://colyseus.io/ (Authoritative server, that works with many engines JavaScript/Phaser/Unity/Haxe/Defold)

If you want web based you'll likely use Javascript for frontend/client. Check if this JS game server framework has what you need https://github.com/colyseus/colyseus

Also check Colyseus. Bit similar multiplayer server framework and built on top of Node.js/TypeScript. https://github.com/colyseus/colyseus

The above project uses a Node.js authoritative game state called Colyseus (https://github.com/colyseus/colyseus) which handles the state synchronisation between clients and server.

We use Colyseus for this. Pretty easy and open source too. https://colyseus.io/

Check our Cockatrice.

I'd suggest going to any deck browsing site (like https://www.mtggoldfish.com/metagame/pioneer/full#paper) and glancing at the top decks and seeing which one interests you. It's okay to post and ask questions about decks if you're not sure how one works (I personally struggled understanding how legacy control decks can seem to run 0 win conditions but also have no issues winning games for instance). When you find a deck you're interested in you can find a discord for that deck or make a post to ask questions and be sure you want to play it. There are also online tools to help you play for free with any deck like https://cockatrice.github.io/ and similar, so you can try the deck online if you'd like

Props for your resourcefulness, but you could just use Cockatrice, or XMage.

Go to https://cockatrice.github.io/ and download the software, installing it afterwards;

Cockatrice can do that, configured for magic by default if i remember correctly. Youll have to cough up image files for different card sets.

There is a client and a server, so not super easy, but not hard if you have any sysadmin experience. I had a server up for almost a year once

https://github.com/Cockatrice/Cockatrice

https://cockatrice.github.io/ - haven't used this too much myself but this one does have built in servers and decent controls

My favorite is Cockatrice even though you sound like a mostly in person seeking fellow. It is a web application that is like a card game simulator, it plays magic and can auto update to show you card images, doesn't cost a dime and theoretically could play other games like Android Netrunner if you really wanted to, downside is it sometimes changes domains if the authorities try and shut it down, but the last one https://cockatrice.github.io/ has been around a while. also no rules enforcement, but upside is play any format including some weirdness like "bring your own standard" from any era or tiny leaders, the all less than 3 mv commander played 1v1